Ukraine flood victims crying out for aid

Published 19 August, 2008, 05:40

Many victims of western Ukraine’s worst flooding for 200 years in late July are still waiting for the disaster relief promised by the government. Local officials can’t even explain why the aid is delayed and how foreign

There was no warning, no evacuation. Torrential rain hit the region in late July, causing rivers to overflow and submerging homes, bridges and roads. At least 30 people died and tens of thousands people fled, while some in the affected area stayed put, drying their belongings and waiting for government help.

Ukraine’s parliament authorised $US 1.2 billion in disaster relief to western Ukraine. With 24,000 people qualifying for compensation, doubts linger if all of the money will reach those who most need it.

Vasily Pavlyuk, who lost his livelihood – a shop, outdoor café and garage – when the river he lives alongside burst its banks, says he still hasn’t received the $US 1000 he’s entitled to.

“I haven’t seen a dollar of aid. It took me so much trouble to get this tractor to clear the debris, free of charge. They gave it to me for only two days but it’s not enough,” he said.

But a local official assured RT that all of the compensation had been paid.

Aid in the form of food, clothes, water, water purifiers, and mattresses, continues to arrive in some of the most impoverished regions of the Carpathian Mountains: The aid. comes both from within Ukraine and abroad.

In villages around the country aid gets dropped off at local administration buildings. The local deputies couldn’t say when they’d be distributing the aid, citing a complex bureaucratic procedure. However, as soon as they realised there were journalists watching, tractors were filled with provisions, which were then delivered to the village.

But some don’t trust this delivery chain. Polish philanthropist Elisabeth Uklaja travels door to door so that corrupt authorities don’t pocket the money.

Russia’s Ministry of Emergencies sent a hundred tonnes of aid, including electricity generators, chainsaws and other construction equipment, but RT’s team was unable to find it. Local officials pointed fingers at each other, but one official said the trail ends with cargo going through customs.

Meanwhile, reconstruction continues with archaic equipment and human labour. While local officials have admitted that relief has brought additional funds into the region’s budget, people say the catastrophe has proved they are on their own.

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